COVID-19 fulminant myocarditis recovered with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella CP.

ABSTRACT

A 38-year-old man without a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination presented with dyspnea and fever. Polymerase chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was positive. Electrocardiogram showed diffuse ST-segment elevation, and chest radiography showed mild pulmonary congestion. The left ventricular (LV) function was markedly impaired. Vital signs were unstable, and serum lactate level was elevated. The patient was diagnosed with cardiogenic shock due to COVID-19 fulminant myocarditis and received veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and Impella CP (Abiomed, Inc., Danvers, MA, USA). Remdesivir and intravenous immunoglobulin were also administered. Corticosteroids were not administered because of the absence of pneumonia. On admission, endomyocardial biopsy showed a small direct inflammatory infiltrate of the myocardium. During mechanical support, the cardiac function improved, the patient was weaned off VA-ECMO on day 6, and Impella CP on day 7. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging implied recent myocardial damage. The patient was discharged on day 30, and the LV function fully recovered. Since the treatment and prognosis of COVID-19 fulminant myocarditis remain unclear, we report the course of COVID-19 fulminant myocarditis with favorable outcomes. Mechanical circulatory support might be an important factor in determining the prognosis of COVID-19 fulminant myocarditis. Learning objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 fulminant myocarditis sometimes requires mechanical circulatory support. The prognosis and treatment have not yet been adequately established. The prognosis is favorable if adequate hemodynamic support is provided.